Saints surely have to get young Whitby in to the side at some point this season, to control the kicking game. They were kicking from deep granted but that is probably the poorest half of kicking I've ever seen from a pro team. 

Isn't it great knowing it's another season where Saints aren't a trophy threat. Sailor showed tonight why he couldn't crack the NRL hes scared of his own shadow. 


I can't wait for Nsemba to be let loose at him and Robertson

With a bit of luck Wellens will flog Walmsley between now and GF, he's still their best forward even if he isn't what he was a few seasons back, why he won't play that big lump of a lad  for more than 10mins is another mystery.

Strange night in a few ways for Saints. Walmsley and Paasi look so much closer to their best but the back row were well off and the attack looked back to last year's level, in it's first test against a side expected to be up near the top of the table. It's Welsby or nowt in attack.

The long kicking game was borderline embarrassing. A professional outfit and one hoping to challenge for trophies can't leave themselves that short in such an important area.  Looking at how loathed Wellens is to give a kid like Stephens minutes, when he is clearly capable, I just don't see him doing it but Whitby surely has to come in, be that for Lomax or Sailor or maybe by them switching Sailor to the wing. 

My take on the game when they came against a proper team they struggled with  plan A (obviously no plan B )which was just to bully the opposition as the lack any real ideas of attack,must admit the ex Wigan players showed up well especially Micky (this was a good reason Saints couldn't bully).


Another good game for the neutral to be honest. 

I think the game just confirms what was initially thought about saints at the start of the season they aren’t good enough to challenge the top teams. I was surprised that there was no plan B especially with Briers being a coach, if saints are to challenge they need to get rid of Wellens and the Dads army brigade 

Briers can't do much on attacking play if Saints can't get out of their own half. 
How much of that game was played in the Saints half, 60%, 70% or more? 


The addition of JWH and MM has transformed that Rovers pack.

Welsby aside, there was essentially zero attacking threat from Saints last night. Kicking game a big problem. Stick a fork in Johnny Lomax - he's done.

One saving grace was the front rowers who all performed well.

Good news is that if they keep flogging Walmsley to death ,come towards the end of this season he will be knackered like last season.

Said the same thing on Redvee on both fronts, I don't understand letting Bell go with Knowles already going. It's going to be a massive ask to get a replacement rotation that's anywhere near as good as the Knowles/Bell rotation so unless Hull just provided an offer we couldn't match then I don't really understand it. Think Bell is coming off quota next year or the year after too. Also agree that whilst I don't see Smithies as being as good as Knowles, he's pretty much the best possible replacement we could get for Knowles, short of Radley coming over which obviously isn't happening. I understand the biases but I don't really understand people saying they wouldn't want him, can't think of anybody else that would be a better fit and obviously fed trained too.
That said I don't actually see Smithies coming, pretty sure that was just some clever seed sewing from Rogues! Going to be very very interesting to see how we line up come next year anyway, going to be a massive shift in personnel.

I can't see Morgan returning to SL. The question I would be asking is did Saints try to retain Bell. I suppose the acid test will be who Saints replace Knowles and Bell with.

Straight away you lock down the 13 shirt for at least 5 years if you sign Smithies and you don't tie up a quota spot. You need the right sort of forwards around him (metre makers, a bit of pace and threat with the ball) and I think Saints have some of that with Walmsley, Paasi Clark, Sironen etc. If there was a chance of him coming home, I could see Saints throwing good money at him because of the need for non quota players. I'm really struggling to see where British replacements for Knowles and Batchelor come from at the minute and if quota spots are needed to replace Hurrell, Bell etc then it's going to get tricky. It feels a bit like the house is being bet on kids like Robertson, Whitby, Stephens and Dagnall not only making it but making it big. If that doesn't happen then replacing Lomax, Walmsley, Clark, Percival etc in the years to come will be a massive challenge.